Activities around Cuello de Luna

Mountain Lodge Hotel Cuello de Luna is located between high snow capped mountains and volcanoes in the Andes of Ecuador. It is the perfect place to acclimate for climbing Cotopaxi, for day hiking and biking in the Cotopaxi National Park, to visit the Quilotoa Crater and the indigenous markets of Saquisili and Zumbahua and the andean indian communities.

Visit Cotopaxi National Park, Iliniza natural reserva, Quilotoa Lake, Zumbahua and Saquisili markets or acclimate for your climbing adventures to Iliniza, Cotopaxi, Cayambe, Antisana and even Chimborazo on your own and independently or with our assitance. Ascend the up to 5000m high minor peaks in our area like Santa Cruz, Rumiñahui, Pasochoa, Iliniza North.......go for a hike or discover the magnificent andean surroundings on a bicycle or on horse back.

Whether you want to discover the highlands on your own or you prefer to enjoy our tour and guide service, we are happy to help and assist you.

We arrange and guide excursions, activities and tours in our area, from guided daytours to 5 day adventure tour packages and excursions, selfguided hikes and bike trips, and multi-sport adventures. We provide certified highly qualified IFMGA mountain guide service for your private tours and expeditions throughout the Andes.

Acclimatize for your climbs to Cotopaxi volcano, Chimborazo and Illiniza in our Mountain Lodge Hotel Cuello de Luna at 3125m. Visit with us the weekly indigenous markets in Zumbahua (saturdays), Saquisili (thursdays) and Guantualó (mondays), hike through andean villages and authentic mountain scenery and enjoy the spontaneous encounters with the friendly and sometimes shy people of this beautiful highland.

For your independant and self guided activities, we arrange and provide private transportation, reliable drop off and pick up service for your hikes, climbs and MT-bike tours and adventures, private 4x4 transport as well as area maps and information concerning public transportation and alternative travel options. Our MOUNTAIN bikes for rent are ready to take you anywhere, to the nearby Cotopaxi national park, to the Thursday market in Saquisili or to andean villages of Isinliví, Chugchilan and Sigchos on the Quilotoa Loop - this with or without our support vehicle.

We arrange private transfers from and to Quito Airport Tababela, to Quito (downtown, old city, bus terminal south "Quitumbe" and north "Carcelen"), Lasso, Latacunga, Cotopaxi National Park, Quilotoa, Zumbahua (saturday market), Saquisili (thursday market), Guantualó (monday market), Baños, Chimborazo, Alausi Devil´s Nose-Train Station, Mindo in the cloud forest, Cuenca, Guayaquil, the jungle. Just let us know how we can help you.

Please have a look at the selection of activities we offer and let us know what your needs and travel dreams are. We will be happy to host you at Mountain Lodge Hotel Cuello de Luna and to assist you to make your Cotopaxi - Ecuador visit unforgettable and to realize your projects and dreams in the Cotopaxi highland area.

Our guided excursions & day tours

Our guided day tours and excursions are addressed to anyone who wants to descover our awesome andean landscape. You decide, depending on your physical condition and preferences, how long and how much you want to hike and what altitude suits you. Our day tours include Spanish speaking driverguide and transportation. English and German guided tours are available on request. Optionally, we can provide lunch or lunch bag.

Early drive to Saquisili, guided visit the animal market early in the morning, continue to visit all market places, potatoes, fruits, crafts, clothes, hats etc.Return journey to Cuello de Luna, Ask for option 1: assisted mountain bike ride back to the hotel, incl. support vehicle.

Ask for option 2: self guided MTB ride back to Cuello de Luna.

Saquisili Market & Quilotoa Crater Lake - Day tour Combo (7-10 hours)

Short drive to Saquisili, visit the animal market early in the morning, visit potatoes, fruit, crafts market. Drive to Quiloto in the western highland, passing indigenous villages and lush andean landscape, visit Quilotoa Crater at 3800m, descent 300m to the lake, ascend back to rater edge and drive back to Cuello de Luna.

Drive to Quiloto in the western highland, passing indigenous villages and lush andean landscape, visit Quilotoa Crater at 3800m, beautiful hike all the way around the crater up und down the rim, 11 km , 950m height gain, drive back to Cuello de Luna.

Drive to Quiloto, visit the crater, descent 300m to the lake at the bottom, continue your drive through impressive mountain scenery to the andean villages of Chugchilan and Isinliví. Finally an adventurous ride over the mountainpass Guingopana 4000m back to Cuello de Luna. Drive time: 5-6 h, 230km, hiking time: 0.5-2 hours, max. altitude: 4050m

Pasochoa Protected Forest Reserve - Day tour (5-8 hours)

Drive to the Pasochoa Reserve, a beautiful place for bird watching, trekking and hiking, including some trails of varying difficulty, is a great option for true nature. Drive time: 2 h, 100km, hiking time: 0.5-6 hours, max. altitude: 3600m.

Hiking and climbing tours

Our guided hiking and climbing tours are aimed at guests of normal to good physical condition, who have higher demands and expectations in terms of hiking time, altitude and effort and may even want to acclimatize themselves for higher summit adventures. Our tours include naturalist or mountain guide - depending on the destination, transportation, multi daytours include overnight stay in refuges, inns or tents and dinner. Optionally, we also offer lunch, equipment and gear.

Rumiñahui 4631m , Cotopaxi National Park - Day Tour (7-9 hours)

40 minutes drive drive to the Limpiopungo Lake in the Cotopaxi National Park. 3 to 4 hours hike and some unpretentious climbing to Rumiñahui Central (4631m). No tecnical gear required. For more demanding and skilled guests we offer Rumiñahui north peak 4712m and Rumiñahui south peak 4696m, guided by a IFMGA Guide. These peaks require basic rock climbing skills and experience.

Volcano Pasochoa 4198m - Day Tour (6-9 hours)

1h drive to the trailhead of our tour at 3360m. On narrow trails through the lush green paramo grasland and a short very simple rock passage we get in four to five hours to the summit and descend in two hours. Drive time: 2 h, 100km, hike: 5 to 7 hours, max. altitude: 4198m.

Iliniza North 5116 m - Day tour with Mountain Guide IFMGA

Drive to La Virgen, hike in 2 hours to the mountain hut. Ascend Iliniza North on SE and further up on the N ridge. Descent on the northern sand and gravel slopes back to our vehicule. For this tour basic climbing experience and a head of heights are required. Drive time: 2 h, 60km, hike: 6 to 8 hours, max. altitude: 5116m.

Santa Cruz 3998m - Day tour

Directly from Cuello de Luna, 3125m, we hike in a 3-5h to the summit of the extinguished volcano Santa Cruz, at the beginning on a trail, further up through almost virgin paramo vegetation and grasland. Spectacular view on Cotopaxi and Iliniza. Drive time: 0, hiking time: 5-8 hours, max. altitude: 3998m.

Drive to La Virgen, hike in 2 hours to the mountain hut. Next morning ascend Iliniza North on SE and N ridge. Descend to the mountain hut on the E ridge and back to our vehicule. Basic rock climbing experience and a head of heights are required. Drive time: 2 h, 60km, hiking time day 1: 2-3 hours, day 2: 4 to 6 hours, max. altitude: 5116m.

Mountain bike and multi-sport tours

Cotopaxi National Park - Mountain Bike Day tour

Cotopaxi Adventure Combo Tour Packages

See more of Cotopaxi with our adventure combo tours combining Cotopaxi National Park, Quilotoa Crater Lake, Indigenous markets in Zumbahua, Saquisili, Guantualó with mountain hikes to Rumiñahui, Pasochoa, Corazón and even Mt. Iliniza and Mt. Cotopaxi.

Transportation prices - private transport

Private Transportation (eg. pick up or drop off) is considered tranport from the Hotel to the destination or viceversa ( from the destination to the hotel), or from the hotel to the destination and back immediately without delay. For 1-4 persons the flat rates apply, for 5+ persons the per person rates apply.

For further information and prices on our shuttle and private tranportation service please contact us.